Thursday, August 07, 2008

This happens every summer.

I swear to god, my cat isn't ill, and I'm not abusing him. Look at his beautiful face:

This is a feline of beauty. It's just a tad, well, touched. His name is Cooper. Those of you who read J&J will recall that this is the one of our three cats who chose to live in our ceiling for a few weeks a few years back. He's a smart guy, and gorgeous and sweet (well, except to Robert the Dog), but, well, we rescued him as a feral kitten from the coyotes and rattlesnakes of rural New Mexico, and he's never been just entirely right in the head. One of the results of this is that he really isn't so much with the grooming. Like, at all. And every summer he gets like this. I brush him and brush him - okay, maybe not just exactly as assiduously as I might, but still - and still winds up so hopelessly matted that he looks like he's wearing a felt jacket. It's horrible. So I trim him, bit by bit, a spot at a time until he freaks out and I have to stop. And by the end of the summer he looks like the Montauk Monster. Poor buddy.

24 Comments:

Secondly - it could be worse. A friend of mine has house rabbits. She's an amazing mom to them, takes great care of them. But in the summer, in the hot months, if she is not VIGILANT 24/7 - they get maggots in their butts. Not in their poo - their butts.

have you tried the furminator? expensive, but totally worth it. i would never have bought it myself, i'm way too cheap, but a friend with four cats and a surprisingly clean house gave me one as a gift. i use it every day, and it makes a huge difference in the amount of cat hair floating around here.

My name is Serene and I'm a writer with a weekly entertainment and lifestyle magazine in Singapore called 8 Days (Think EW meets NY Mag - but less douchebaggy). I read The Julie/Julia Project and thought it's great that it's landed you a Hollywood movie deal starring Meryl Streep, no less. Would it be possible to do an email interview with you about this huge change in your life and how being a crap cook could land you a Hollywood movie. I tried looking for an email address here, but I couldn't find one. Hence, I'm contacting you via this comment. I hope to hear from you soon.

I just finished your book last week and I have to say that it was very inspirational to me.

Most of my life I have fallen into the category of someone who doesn't ever finish anything. I think my parents felt guilt over being divorced and never made us follow through on anything. Never-the-less, over the last 5-6 years I have been on the road to evolving into a "finisher", and I attribute much of my success to the support of my faithful, patient husband.

The goals that are most important to continue to strive for are the ones that you set for yourself.

I love your project and your self-realization throughout the journey.

Also, because I hate to leave another non-relevant comment about your book, I want to add that my husband and I once adopted a feral cat that looked exactly like yours. He was never quite right in the head and eventually ran away. Could it be the same cat? Hmmmmmm.

Hi! I finished J&J last night! I enjoyed it! I am a vegetarian, but I even enjoyed the recipe descriptions, which brought me back to my past (25 years ago), when I was still cooking meat. We ate butter back then, too!

I have a perhaps unique request...I am in a book club near Austin. We have been meeting for 10 years, and we love to have guests. We will discuss your book next Monday and would like to invite your mother! Seriously! Someone went to your publisher's website weeks ago and sent a message asking about this but has not gotten an answer, so I thought I'd try here. One of our members has a daughter who has written several novels. That is to let you know that we are probably around your mother's age and that she would enjoy us! We meet at a Barnes & Noble.

I apologize if this is not a good place to post this. I am guessing that you can reach me via this comment. Thanks! Good luck with the new book!

Hello, I am reading your book Julie and Julia, and am almost finished, and I want to thank you for sharing your project. You are so inspirational and funny. I have never attempted to cook a French recipe. I like to cook too, and I am addicted to the Food Network, but there are some recipes that freak me out. I know this may sound strange, but I too was a secretary for many years, and I felt the same way and supplemented it with going back to school to become a teacher. I wish you lots of luck with the movie. I also have a cat who is long haired and gets matted; I find putting olive oil on her fur and even the knots helps them come out; she is not so crazy about it, but it makes it easier to comb them. Nicole

Julie, first time to Google you and visit the new blog, but back to Julia. It is late, and reading this fun news that JC was part of the massive spy ring puts new meaning to the term "Food Police" or in her time, looking out for the "Food Nazis." Always wondered why in her late age she had an audience in Congress to discuss food safety, with her dirt she could ask for many things. Did the CIA teach her the skill of opening Champagne with a saber?

Julie (and Eric),Just a little blast from the past - this is Juliet Whelan from high school. I'm living in Philadelphia now. I whizzed through and greatly enjoyed the book; what fun to recognize the characters and see bits of the past through your eyes. Best of luck with all your endeavors.

First off, I just finished your book this morning, fantastic. Loved all the Buffy worship, as Buffy is amazing. You should check out the comic if you haven't. Also, saw you are watching Battlestar, ah so good! It's so amazing what you have done, and a movie too! Congrats!

Hi, I just read your book. yes, my name is Julia but everyone calls me Julie, so I guess I was drawn to the book... I'm also a Taurus, and I love to cook! I've never blogged before or bleaded...but your book compelled me to look into this bleading/blogging thing. You just seem like a people person, and it would be like talking to you! I don't know if you respond, but I'll write anyhow.My parents always had Julia's book but I never had one. I learned mostly from Betty Crocker, although people love to call me Julia Child....It's easy to get in a rut and just cook the same stuff all the time, so a couple years ago I vowed to cook something new out of a cookbook or magazine every week. it's challenging and fun.I've been to New York twice, and I couldn't imagine living there. I'm in the midwest and I enjoy growing my tomatoes and peppers and that makes cooking alot more satisifying too. I have a clerical job at a large three-lettered phone company...been here forever and I feel like I'm just a number. I think there are lots of people out there that hate their jobs, but security, pay and benefits are great reasons to stay put.that's all for now. thanks for listening!

Your cat is super cute. I too, am obsessed with my cat. My sister's cat licks until there is no fur left on his belly. That's right, bald belly. So it could be worse and your cat could be batshit crazy like hers.

Hi Julie,I just finished your book, I loved it. I live on the Upper West Side and my girlfriend gave it to me for my summer reading and it was great! I admire you and Eric for your stamina, good for you!

I wanted to tell you about the "Furminator" that I use on my cat. I have a Russian Blue and every summer she gets the same matting and I have to cut them out. When I took my daughter to figure skating camp in Lake Placid this summer, I went into this pet store and I bought the "Furminator" and now I swear by it. It's fantastic, I use it on her about once a day and her coat looks great. She hates when I do it and tries to bite it or me, but I do it when she is eating her breakfast and is so distracted that I manage to do it really fast and I get the job done. Go to "Furminator.com" and order one, they aren't cheap but it is fantastic. Let me know how it goes.

well - I remember him when he was but a kitten. he's always been skitty, hey? marlowe has started doing something that causes 2 (and only 2) dred locks to form on his left hip, I think a form of rug-scooting. Bless. Anyway - I know another long-haired cat in Austin owned by perfectly sane sweet people who goes totally dredded all summer, no matter (..mat, hah.) what, probably just hair hassle.

Our Jack Russell has something summer related where he licks every bit of fur off his feet and it looks like he has crows feet. Nothing works except for the weather turning colder so we spend all summer yelling "WILLY, STOP LICKING YOUR FEET!" He even has little booties we put on him with anti-itch powder in them. We are indeed a glamorous family! When's that new book coming out??? And why do I have take an eye test everytime I leave a comment. :)

Ok, this makes me laugh. Poor kitty. I am in Chicago on biz, but will weigh on with another vote for the Furminator. Use it on my Labs and fey cat to good effect. Also, waiting for the movie. (Great cast!). You must be f'ing pinching yourself. Take it easy, Lib

My sister-in-law has a la-a-arge, long-haired tabby. She gives him a "lion" cut every summer. Leaves a ruff around the neck and on the legs, but shears the body. Cool for him and avoids the matting problem!